JP2012205678A - Wheelchair brake device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair brake device having a simple structure and capable of smoothly folding a wheelchair, which can automatically brings the wheelchair into a braking state when a sitting person leaves the wheelchair.SOLUTION: The brake device includes: a presence detector which has a base portion disposed on a shaft member 14A disposed on a cross portion of a cross member 10X in a body frame 10, is raised from the base portion and is to be urged so as to move up by an urging means 23, and moves down when the user sits on a seat 15 disposed above the cross member 10X and moves up when the user leaves the wheelchair; and a brake device 30 for stopping the rotation of the main wheels 12, which is coupled to the presence detector via a mechanical transmission means 27, is brought into an unbraking state due to the downward movement of the presence detector and into a braking state by the upward movement of the presence detector.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a wheelchair brake device, and more particularly to a wheelchair brake device that mechanically brakes when a wheelchair passenger leaves the seat.

  Conventionally, a brake device for a wheelchair that mechanically brakes when a passenger leaves the seat has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  The seat is divided into a rear part and a front part and connected by a joint part, and the rear part is pushed up and supported by springs wound around a pair of back frames, respectively, and lowered by sitting down to become flat, It is equipped with a seat that can be lifted by leaving. Each of the pair of back frames is equipped with a rear wheel axle tightening type brake device, and the brake levers of the left and right brake devices are used by utilizing the springing up of the rear part of the seat seat by the spring when the passenger stands up. The left and right brake devices are in a braking state by rotating. In addition, when a caregiver transports a wheelchair that has become empty due to the passenger leaving the seat, the spring is bent by operating the release levers provided on the handles at the upper ends of the pair of back frames that the caregiver holds. By locking in the state, the left and right brake devices are in a non-braking state.

JP 2003-153961 A

  By the way, when the wheelchair is folded, it is necessary to fold the seat seat upward at the center in the left-right direction. However, in the above-described conventional example, the rear portion of the seat is in a state of jumping upward with the passenger leaving the seat. Thus, in a state in which the rear part has jumped upward, the seat cannot be folded upward at the center in the left-right direction. For this reason, in the conventional example, after the operation of flattening the seat by setting the brake device in the non-braking state with the left and right release levers, it is possible to fold the mountain upward at the central portion orthogonal to the joint portion. In addition, in the conventional example, there is a problem in that the structure is complicated because devices for setting the brake device in a braking state when the passenger leaves the seat are provided in the left and right frames of the wheelchair, respectively.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a wheelchair brake device that is simple in structure and capable of smoothly folding a wheelchair and automatically brakes when the passenger leaves the seat. The purpose is to provide.

  In the brake device according to the present invention, a base portion is disposed on a shaft member disposed at a crossing portion of the cross member in the vehicle body frame, is erected so as to be raised from the base portion and biased by a biasing means, and is disposed above the cross member. A seat detection device that is lowered when the passenger sits on the seat to be seated and that rises when the passenger leaves the seat.

  Furthermore, the brake device of the present invention is connected to the presence detection device via a mechanical transmission means, and is brought into a non-braking state by the downward movement of the presence detection device, and is braked by the upward movement of the presence detection device. And a brake device for stopping the rotation of the main wheel.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the passenger leaves the seat, the left / right brake device can be automatically brought into a braking state by the presence detection device located in the center of the wheelchair, and the presence detection device can be used for folding the wheelchair. The wheelchair can be folded without any obstacles.

The side view which shows the structure of the wheelchair to which this invention is applied. The top view of a wheelchair. The front view of a wheelchair. The rear view of a wheelchair. The front view of a seating detection apparatus. The side view of a seating detection apparatus. The top view of a seating detection apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the brake device and brake release device in a braking state. Explanatory drawing which shows the brake device and brake release device in a non-braking state. Explanatory drawing which shows a brake release apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the holding | maintenance apparatus of a brake release apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation hold | maintenance state of a brake release apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a brake release apparatus. The side view which shows a footrest apparatus. The front view which shows a footrest apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows an up-and-down lock apparatus. Sectional drawing of an up-and-down locking device. Sectional drawing which shows an example of a spring apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the other example of a spring apparatus. Explanatory drawing explaining the cooperation state of each cable of the wheelchair of a present Example. Sectional drawing which shows the other example of an up-and-down lock apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the lock release of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the brake device of the wheelchair of the present invention is explained based on each example. 1 to 4 are a side view, a plan view, a front view, and a rear view showing a structure of a wheelchair to which the present invention is applied. In the present specification, the vertical and horizontal directions and the front and rear directions are defined based on the viewpoint of the passenger sitting on the wheelchair.

  In FIG. 1, the wheelchair includes casters (wheels) 11 on both the left and right sides of the front portion of the vehicle, and includes large main wheels 12 on the left and right sides of the rear portion of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle body frame 10 includes a pair of front and rear X characters that connect the right frame 10 </ b> R formed of a pipe frame, the left frame 10 </ b> L similarly formed of a pipe frame, and the left and right frames 10 </ b> R and 10 </ b> L. And a cross member 10X. In the illustrated example, the left and right frames 10R and 10L are formed in a similar shape by a pipe frame, and a lower beam 13A disposed in the front-rear direction below and a center beam 13B disposed in the front-rear direction so as to support the seat. And an upper beam 13C disposed in the front-rear direction to which the armrest is attached. The center beam 13B is bent obliquely downward at the front and connected to the front end of the lower beam 13A, and a footrest device 40 described later is attached to an inclined portion extending obliquely downward. The upper beam 13C is bent downward at the front and connected to the center beam 13B, and its extended end is connected to the lower beam 13A.

  The rear ends of the center beam 13B and the upper beam 13C are connected to an upper and lower beam 13D having a lower end coupled to the lower beam 13A, and the upper end of the upper and lower beam 13D is bent rearward to form a caregiver's handle. The casters 11 on both the left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle have their pivot axes fixed to the lower ends of the upper beams 13C. Further, the main wheels 12 on the left and right sides of the rear part of the vehicle are fixed via brackets at the intermediate positions of the connecting portions of the center beam 13B and the lower beam 13A of the upper and lower beams 13D.

  A pair of front and rear X-shaped cross members 10X that connect the left and right frames 10R and 10L are arranged in an oblique direction so as to cross each other when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, as shown in FIGS. A pair of cross beams 14B and 14C are provided in the vehicle front-rear direction so that the crossing angle can be changed by the shaft 14A at the intersection. Further, the shaft 14A at the intersection of the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to the block 21 arranged therebetween by a screw so that the block 21 and the front and rear shafts 14A are It is integrated.

  The pair of cross beams 14B and 14C arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction are rotatably connected to the lower beams 13A of the left and right frames 10R and 10L at their lower ends. Further, the upper ends of the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected to each other by a seat holding pipe 14E in the vehicle front-rear direction. A seat 15 on which a passenger sits is attached to the seat holding pipe 14E.

  The pair of cross beams 14B and 14C expands the interval between the left and right frames 10R and 10L by narrowing the cross angle (the angle formed by the upper part of one cross beam and the lower part of the other cross beam). The interval between the left and right frames 10R and 10L can be reduced by increasing the intersection angle. By narrowing the crossing angle between the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C, the seat holding pipe 14E is lowered downward and engaged with the bracket 13E provided on the center beam 13B of the left and right frames 10R and 10L, whereby the left and right frames 10R. , 10L can be enlarged and the wheelchair can be used. Further, by expanding the crossing angle between the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C to narrow the interval between the left and right frames 10R and 10L, the seat holding pipe 14E is raised upward and the left and right are brought close to each other to fold the seat 15. In this state, the wheelchair can be in a retracted state.

  A plate 22 that prevents the block 21 from rotating when the wheelchair is in use is fixed to the block 21 described above. The plate 22 is provided with a pair of front pieces 22A, and the pair of front pieces 22A is lower than the crossing portion in front of the vehicle in a state where the crossing angle between the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C is narrowed so that the wheelchair is used. The cross beams 14B and 14C are in contact with the upper surface. However, when the wheelchair is retracted by enlarging the crossing angle between the pair of cross beams 14B and 14C and narrowing the distance between the left and right frames 10R and 10L, the pair of front pieces 22A has a front portion below the crossing portion. Since it is separated from the piece 22A, it does not become an obstacle to the folding of the wheelchair.

  The block 21 is slidably movable in the vertical direction, is urged to move upward by a spring 23 arranged concentrically, and moves upward by a predetermined amount or more by cables 27 and 28 described later. A pair of front and rear slide shafts 25 that are blocked are attached. At the upper ends of the pair of slide shafts 25, the slide shaft 25 is pushed down by the seat 15 that bends downward according to the seating of the occupant, and the downward deflection is restored according to the occupant leaving the seat. A seating detection plate 26 which is lifted by releasing the pressing to the slide shaft 25 by the seat 15 is fixed. The seating detection plate 26 constitutes a passenger presence detection device.

  The above-described vertical movement of the seating detection plate 26 is transmitted to a brake device 30 to be described later by a braking cable 27 formed of a pull cable having a cable guide fixed to the block 21 and a cable tip fixed to the seating detection plate 26. Further, an upper lock cable 28 formed of a pull cable that is tensioned in conjunction with the vertical movement of the seating detection plate 26 and releases an upper lock device 46 of the footrest device 40 described later branches the brake cable 27 or the brake cable 27. Is provided independently.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the brake device 30 is configured by a band brake that tightens and brakes the brake drum 31 by winding a brake band (not shown) around the brake drum 31 that rotates together with the main wheel 12 from the outer periphery. . In this type of brake device, one end of the brake band is fixed to the brake back plate 32, and the other end of the brake band wound around the brake drum 31 is moved in the winding direction by the brake lever 33 to brake the brake band. It winds around the drum 31 and brakes. In addition, the other end of the brake band wound around the brake drum 31 is moved away from the outer periphery of the brake drum 31 by moving the other end of the brake band to the opposite side of the winding direction by the brake lever 33 so that the braking state is not braked. Release to.

  The brake lever 33 is given a constant urging force in the braking release direction by a spring (not shown), and is normally in a brake non-braking state. A cable tip at the other end of the brake cable 27 is fixed to the brake lever 33, and a cable guide at the other end of the brake cable 27 is fixed to the brake back plate 32, whereby the brake lever 33 is moved in the braking direction by the brake cable 27. It can be made to brake by rotating to. That is, the other end of the brake cable 27 is connected to the seating detection plate 26 described above, and as shown in the figure, the brake cable 27 is loosened by the seating of the occupant and the brake lever 33 is rotated in the biasing direction by the spring. It moves to the brake non-braking state. Further, as shown in the figure, the brake cable 27 is tensioned by the passenger leaving the seat, and the brake lever 33 is rotated against the urging direction of the spring to enter the brake braking state.

  The brake device 30 is not limited to the above-described one, and for example, the brake device 30 is braked by bringing the brake shoe into contact with the inner surface of the brake drum, or the brake shoe is brought into contact with the outer periphery of the brake drum for braking. It may be a thing.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the brake device 30 is connected to a brake release device 35 for changing the brake device 30 in a braking state from the outside to a non-braking state. The brake release device 35 is operated by operating the release lever 36 when the assistant carries the wheelchair in which the brake cable 27 is tensioned due to the passenger leaving and the brake is in the brake braking state. Is released to the non-braking state. By releasing the brake braking state, the wheelchair can be carried by the assistant without braking resistance. When the transport of the wheelchair is completed, the brake lever 30 can be returned to the braking state again by returning the release lever 36 to the initial position, so that the wheelchair can be stably stopped.

  The brake release device 35 includes a release lever 36 and a release cable 34 formed of a pull cable that is tensioned when the release lever 36 is operated and rotates the brake lever 33 of the brake device 30 in the brake release direction. In the release cable 34 for rotating the brake lever 33 in the brake release direction, the cable guide is fixed to the frame, and the tip of the cable is engaged with the brake lever 33. When the release lever 36 is not operated and the brake cable 27 is loosened by the seating of the passenger and the brake device 30 is in the non-brake state, the tip of the release cable 34 is as shown in FIG. In this state, the brake lever 33 is lifted from the engagement portion. However, when the braking cable 27 is tensioned by the passenger leaving and the brake device 30 is in the braking state, the distal end of the release cable 34 is engaged with the engaging portion of the brake lever 33 as shown in FIG. It becomes.

  The other end of the release cable 34 is connected to a release lever 36, and the cable guide is fixed to a bracket 37 that rotatably supports the release lever 36. When the release lever 36 is not operated, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the release lever 36 is in a non-operating position in contact with the stopper formed by the bracket 37, and when releasing the braking state of the brake device 30. , Operated in the direction of the arrow.

  By operating the lever, the release cable 34 is tensioned and the end of the cable is moved in the direction of engagement with the brake lever 33. At this time, when the brake cable 27 is tensioned by the passenger leaving and the brake lever 33 is rotated in the braking direction, the tip of the release cable 34 is engaged with the brake lever 33, and then the brake lever 33 is released from the brake. The brake device 30 is turned to the non-braking state. At this time, the reaction force of the spring 23 that biases the seating detection plate 26 to return to the original position is applied to the release lever 36 via the release cable 34, the brake lever 33, the braking cable 27, and the seating detection plate 26. Then, the release lever 36 is operated to return to the non-operation position.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 10, the engaging lever 36A is provided on the release lever 36, and a stopper member 38 that can be projected and retracted on the movement locus of the engaging protrusion 36A is provided on the bracket 37. By engaging the member 38, the release lever 36 is held in the operating position. As shown in FIG. 11, the retractable stopper member 38 is configured by fitting a stepped pin 38 </ b> A into a U-shaped member constituting the bracket 37 slidably in the pin axial direction.

  That is, a small-diameter hole is provided on one of the U-shaped members constituting the bracket 37, and a large-diameter hole is provided on one of the U-shaped members on the same axis. The stepped pin 38A includes a small diameter portion 38B that fits into the small diameter hole, a large diameter portion 38C that fits into the large diameter hole, and a pin head 38D at the end of the large diameter portion 38C. Then, the small-diameter portion 38B is fitted into the small-diameter hole and the large-diameter portion 38C is fitted into the large-diameter hole, the retaining ring is fitted into the small-diameter portion 38B protruding from the bracket 37, and the pin head 38D at the end of the bracket 37 and the large-diameter portion 38C. A compression spring 38E is disposed between the two.

  Therefore, normally, the small diameter portion 38B of the stepped pin 38A is disposed between the U-shaped members constituting the bracket 37 by the compression spring 38E, and this small diameter portion 38B is on the movement locus of the engagement protrusion 36A of the release lever 36. Therefore, the return lever 36 is not prevented from returning to the non-operation position. However, when the large diameter portion 38C is advanced between the U-shaped members by bending the compression spring 38E from the pin head 38D side and pushing the stepped pin 38A, the large diameter portion 38C is, as shown in FIG. It is formed in a large diameter and protrudes on the movement locus of the engagement protrusion 36A of the release lever 36. This prevents the release lever 36 from returning to the non-operation position.

  When the engagement protrusion 36A of the release lever 36 and the large diameter portion 38C are engaged, the sliding force of the stepped pin 38A is blocked by the return force acting on the release lever 36, and the hand is released from the release lever 36. However, the operation state can be maintained, and the brake lever 33 can be maintained in the brake non-operating state via the release cable 34. When the release lever 36 is operated again in the operation direction, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 36A and the large diameter portion 38C is released, and the stepped pin 38A is returned to the normal position by the action of the compression spring 38E. Can be returned to the non-operating position.

  Also, the brake release device 35 is tensioned in conjunction with the brake release operation by the release lever 36, and the lower lock cable 29 formed of a pull cable for releasing the lower lock device 47 of the footrest device 40 described later is connected to the release cable 34. It branches or is provided independently of the release cable 34.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the release lever 36 includes a ratchet claw 39A biased in the engagement direction by a spring. The release lever 36 is operated over a predetermined angle on the movement locus of the release lever 36. It is good also as a structure which provides the ratchet tooth | gear 39B engaged with the ratchet nail | claw 39A at the time. In this configuration, when the release lever 36 is operated by a predetermined angle or more, the operation state can be maintained even if the release lever 36 is released, and the brake lever 33 is not braked via the release cable 34. The braking state can be maintained. The ratchet pawl 39A can be detached from the ratchet teeth 39B by pushing in the knob 39C provided on the release lever 36, and the release lever 36 can be returned to the non-operating position while the knob 39C is pushed.

  The footrest device 40 includes a pair of left and right lifting guides 41 fixed to inclined portions extending obliquely forward in the center beam 13B, and both ends connected to the lower ends of the pair of left and right lifting guides 41 and disposed in the vehicle lateral direction. 42.

  The pair of left and right elevating guides 41 includes upper and lower guides 43A and 43B fixed to inclined portions of the center beam 13B, a pair of guide rods 44 that are guided by the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B and can be moved up and down, and the upper and lower guides. The cylinder 45A portion is fixed to 43A and 43B, and the spring device 45 is configured to urge the guide rod 44 to be pulled upward.

  The footrest 42 is connected to the lower ends of the left and right guide rods 44, and is rotatable about a front-rear direction axis with respect to the lower end of one guide rod 44, and to the lower end of the other guide rod 44, It can be engaged from above. For this reason, when the wheelchair is folded, the footrest 42 is disengaged from the other guide rod 44 and rotated around an axis with respect to the one guide rod 44, and the left and right frames 10R and 10L of the wheelchair are moved closer to each other. Make it possible.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the footrest 42 may be completely coupled so as to be integrated with the lower ends of the left and right guide rods 44. In this case, although not shown in the drawing, the footrest 42 is bent in a mountain shape upward at the central portion, and is folded in a valley folded state in the vicinity of the left and right guide rods 44, thereby corresponding to folding of the wheelchair. In the state where the footrest 42 is extended horizontally, the footrest 42 can be formed as an integrated rigid body, the footrest 42 and the left and right guide rods 44 are completely integrated, and the lifting and lowering operation of the left and right guide rods 44 is performed horizontally. It is possible to suppress the falling apart.

  The vertical guides 43A and 43B support the guide rod 44 so as to be slidably guided by the vertical holes 43C provided with bushes, and fix the cylinder 45A portion of the spring device 45 to the adjacent vertical holes 43D. keeping.

  As shown in FIG. 18, as the spring device 45, a piston 45B and a piston rod 45C are slidably inserted into a cylinder 45A, the piston 45B is pushed up by a built-in spring 45D, and the piston rod 45C is pushed out from the cylinder 45A. There is a structure. In addition, as shown in FIG. 19, a cylinder 45A whose internal pressure is increased by a built-in gas 45E, a piston 45B slidably inserted into the cylinder 45A, and a piston 45B that is integrated with the piston 45B protrudes and appears from the end of the cylinder 45A. It is also possible to configure a gas damper that includes a piston rod 45C that communicates with each other through an orifice 45F. A check valve 45G is also provided to quickly move the piston rod 45C in the contracting direction. The cylinder chamber is filled with hydraulic oil, and a free piston that partitions the hydraulic oil and gas 45E is provided.

  The upper end of the guide rod 44 is connected to the tip of a piston rod 45C biased in the protruding direction by the spring device 45. For this reason, the piston rod 45 </ b> C and the guide rod 44 move up and down together and are urged by the spring device 45 to always move upward. Accordingly, the footrest 42 connected to the lower end of the guide rod 44 is also urged so as to always move upward by the spring device 45.

  The upper guide 43A is provided with an upper locking device 46 for locking the guide rod 44 in the raised position, and the lower guide 43B is provided with a lower locking device 47 for locking the guide rod 44 in the lowered position. The guide rod 44 is provided with an upper locking groove 46A provided at a position facing the upper locking device 46 when the guide rod 44 is raised, and at a position facing the lower locking device 47 when the guide rod 44 is lowered. A lower lock groove 47A.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the upper locking device 46 (lower locking device 47) is movable in a direction orthogonal to the guide rod 44, and advances toward the guide rod 44 by a spring 46B (47B) disposed on the back surface. And an upper lock piece 46C (lower lock piece 47C) that engages with an upper lock groove 46A (lower lock groove 47A) provided on the guide rod 44 with an arcuate tip. Accordingly, when the guide rod 44 is guided and raised by the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B and the upper lock groove 46A is aligned with the upper lock piece 46C in the vertical direction, the upper lock piece 46C is attached to the back spring 46B. The guide rod 44 is locked at the upper position by engaging with the upper lock groove 46A by the force.

  A cable tip at the other end of the upper lock cable 28 is connected to the upper lock piece 46C, and a tip of the cable guide at the other end of the upper lock cable 28 is connected to the upper guide 43A. For this reason, the upper lock piece 46 </ b> C moves in conjunction with the vertical movement of the seating detection plate 26 disposed at one end of the upper lock cable 28. That is, the upper lock cable 28 is tensioned in accordance with the empty state (the rising of the seating detection plate 26) due to the rising from the seating state of the passenger on the seat 15 (the lowered position of the seating detection plate 26). For this reason, the upper lock piece 46C is moved from the engaged state of the guide rod 44 to the upper lock groove 46A to the outer peripheral side against the back spring 46B, and the unlocking of the upper lock device 46 is executed.

  Further, when the guide rod 44 is guided and lowered by the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B, and the lower lock groove 47A is aligned with the lower lock piece 47C in the vertical direction, the lower lock piece 47C is attached to the back spring 47B. The guide rod 44 is locked at the lower position by engaging with the lower lock groove 47A by the force.

  A cable tip at the other end of the lower lock cable 29 is connected to the lower lock piece 47C, and a cable guide tip at the other end of the lower lock cable 29 is connected to the lower guide 43B. For this reason, the lower lock piece 47 </ b> C moves in conjunction with the release operation of the brake release device 35 arranged at one end of the lower lock cable 29. That is, as the release lever 36 of the brake release device 35 is operated in the release direction from the non-operation position, the lower lock cable 29 is tensioned. Therefore, the lower lock piece 47C is moved from the engaged state of the guide rod 44 to the lower lock groove 47A to the outer peripheral side against the spring 47B on the back surface, and the unlocking of the lower lock device 47 is executed.

  FIG. 20 shows a control cable routing state with the wheelchair presence detection device, the brake device 30, the brake release device 35, and the upper and lower lock devices 46 and 47 of the footrest device 40 described above.

  The operation of the wheelchair brake device 30 configured as described above will be described below.

  In a state where the passenger is seated on the seat 15 of the wheelchair, the seat detection plate 26 disposed at the lower portion of the seat 15 resists the spring 23 by the seat 15 that bends downward according to the seating of the passenger. Pushed down. By pushing down the seating detection plate 26, the tension of the braking cable 27 and the upper lock cable 28 is eliminated, and the seating detection plate 26 is in a relaxed state. For this reason, the brake lever 33 of the brake device 30 connected to the brake cable 27 is rotated in the release direction, and the brake device 30 is in a non-braking state. Further, the upper lock device 46 in the footrest device 40 connected to the upper lock cable 28 is released from the restriction of the upper lock piece 46C to the unlocked state due to the slack of the upper lock cable 28, and the upper lock piece 46C The spring 46B engages with the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44 to fix the footrest 42 at the raised position.

  Note that since the brake release device 35 is not operated, the release cable 34 and the lower lock cable 29 are also loosened, and the lower lock piece of the lower lock device 47 in the footrest device 40 connected to the lower lock cable 29. 47C is also pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the guide rod 44 that is out of the lower lock groove 47A by the spring 47B on the back surface.

  When the passenger gets off the wheelchair, he / she floats from the seat 15 while putting weight on the footrest 42. By this rising operation, the load due to the weight applied to the seat 15 is released, the spring 23 under the seating surface is extended, and the seating detection plate 26 is raised. As the seating detection plate 26 ascends, tension force by the spring 23 acts on the brake cable 27 and the upper lock cable 28, and the respective cables are pulled.

  The tension of the brake cable 27 rotates the brake lever 33 of the brake device 30 in the braking direction against a spring (not shown) that urges the brake lever 33 in the braking release direction, tightens the brake drum 31 with the brake band, and brakes the brake device 30. The movement of the wheelchair is automatically regulated. For this reason, since the movement of the wheelchair by the passenger's getting-off operation can be prevented, the passenger can safely start the getting-off operation.

  On the other hand, the tension of the upper lock cable 28 causes the upper lock piece 46C of the upper lock device 46 in the footrest device 40 to disengage from the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44 against the spring 46B on the back surface, thereby causing the guide rod 44 to be non-rotated. The restraint state is set, and the footrest 42 can be raised and lowered. The guide rod 44 is acted upon by an urging force to be raised by the reaction force of the spring device 45 (gas damper), but the pedaling force (substantially body weight) applied to the footrest 42 is the spring device 45 (gas damper). Therefore, the footrest 42 is lowered by sliding the guide rod 44 along the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B. Then, when the lower lock groove 47A of the guide rod 44 is lowered to the position of the lower lock device 47 provided in the lower guide 43B, the lower lock piece 47C is advanced by the spring 47B on the back surface and moved into the lower lock groove 47A of the guide rod 44. The footrest 42 is fixed at the lowered position.

  When getting into the wheelchair, the footrest 42 is fixed at the lowered position, so the footrest 42 is stepped on, gets on as it is, and sits on the seat 15. Since the brake device 30 is in a braking state, the wheelchair does not move when the user gets on the vehicle, and can safely get in.

  When seated on the seat 15, the weight of the passenger is added to the seat 15, the seating detection plate 26 is lowered against the spring 23, and the braking cable 27 and the upper lock cable 28 are loosened. For this reason, the brake lever 33 connected to the brake cable 27 is rotated in the release direction by the spring, and the brake device 30 enters the non-braking state.

  Further, when the upper lock cable 28 is loosened, the upper lock piece 46C of the upper lock device 46 in the footrest device 40 connected to the upper lock cable 28 is also removed from the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44 by the spring 46B on the back surface. It is pressed against the detached outer peripheral part.

  Next, the passenger temporarily operates the release lever 36 of the brake release device 35 to the operation position, and then returns to the non-operation position. Due to the temporary rotation of the release lever 36 to the operating position, the release cable 34 and the lower lock cable 29 are temporarily tensioned.

  In the brake device 30, since the brake lever 33 is rotated to the non-braking position, the cable tip of the release cable 34 is idlely moved in the direction to engage with the brake lever 33, and then is idled again in the non-engagement direction. To return to the original position.

  In the lower lock device 47 in the footrest device 40, the lower lock piece 47C is separated from the lower lock groove 47A of the guide rod 44 against the spring 47B on the back surface, the guide rod 44 is brought into an unconstrained state, and the footrest 42 can be raised and lowered. It becomes. The guide rod 44 is acted upon by an urging force to be raised by the reaction force of the spring device 45 (gas damper), so that the foot rod 42 is slid by sliding the guide rod 44 along the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B. Be raised. When the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44 rises to the position of the upper lock device 46 provided in the upper guide 43A, the upper lock piece 46C moves forward by the spring 46B on the back surface and enters the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44. The footrest 42 is fixed at the raised position.

  Moreover, in the empty wheelchair where the passenger got off, since it is empty, the brake device 30 is in a braking state, and the footrest 42 is fixed at the lowered position as the passenger gets off. For this reason, when the caregiver moves the empty wheelchair to the storage position, the brake device 30 needs to be in the non-braking state, and the release lever 36 of the brake release device 35 is moved to the operation position.

  At this time, the reaction force of the spring 23 that biases the seating detection plate 26 to return to the original position is applied to the release lever 36 via the release cable 34, the brake lever 33, the braking cable 27, and the seating detection plate 26. Thus, the release lever 36 is operated to return to the non-operation position. Therefore, the stopper member 38 is operated so that the large diameter portion 38C of the stepped pin 38A faces the engaging protrusion 36A, and the engaging protrusion 36A of the release lever 36 is engaged with the large diameter portion 38C of the stopper member 38. The release lever 36 is held at the operation position.

  Movement of the release lever 36 to the operating position tensions the release cable 34 and the lower lock cable 29. The tension of the release cable 34 causes the end of the release cable 34 to engage with the brake lever 33, and then the brake lever 33 is rotated in the brake release direction, so that the brake device 30 is brought into a non-braking state.

  Further, the tension of the lower lock cable 29 causes the lower lock device 47 in the footrest device 40 to disengage the lower lock piece 47C from the lower lock groove 47A of the guide rod 44 against the spring 47B on the back surface, and the guide rod 44 is not pushed. The restraint state is set, and the footrest 42 can be raised and lowered. The guide rod 44 is acted upon by a biasing force to be lifted by the reaction force of the spring device 45 (gas damper), so the guide rod 44 is slid along the upper and lower guides 43A and 43B, and the footrest 42 is lifted. Is done. When the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44 rises to the position of the upper lock device 46 provided in the upper guide 43A, the upper lock piece 46C moves forward by the spring 46B on the back surface and enters the upper lock groove 46A of the guide rod 44. The footrest 42 is fixed at the raised position.

  As described above, since the brake device 30 of the empty wheelchair can be set in the non-braking state, the caregiver can move the wheelchair to an arbitrary storage position without receiving the brake resistance of the brake device 30. Then, in the moved storage position, an operation exceeding the operation position is again applied to the release lever 36, whereby the stopper member 38 is not engaged with the engagement protrusion 36A, and the small diameter portion 38B of the stepped pin 38A is engaged with the engagement protrusion 36A. Then, the release lever 36 is returned to the non-operation position. As a result, the release cable 34 is loosened, the brake lever 33 is rotated to the braking position, the brake device 30 is brought into the braking state, and the wheelchair can be stopped at the storage position.

  In the above embodiment, as the locking mechanism of the upper locking device 46 and the lower locking device 47, the locking pieces 46C, 47C are movable in the direction perpendicular to the guide rod 44 and are urged by the springs 46B, 47B on the back surface. A description has been given of what engages with the lock grooves 46A and 47A of the guide rod 44. However, the vertical lock mechanism is not limited to the above-described one, and may be, for example, a sleeve type as shown in FIG.

  In the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 21, a lock ball 48 that is disposed in a hole radially provided in the guide main body 43 that guides the guide rod 44 and engages with lock grooves 46A and 47A of the guide rod 44, A lock sleeve 49 that is regulated from the side and is movable in the axial direction of the guide rod 44. A small-diameter portion 49A and a large-diameter portion 49B are provided on the inner periphery of the lock sleeve 49 with a taper portion interposed therebetween. When the small-diameter portion 49A is positioned on the outer periphery of the lock ball 48, the lock ball 48 is inserted into the lock groove of the guide rod 44. The movement of the guide rod 44 is restricted by engaging with 46A and 47A.

  Further, when the lock sleeve 49 is slid and the large-diameter portion 49B is positioned on the outer periphery of the lock ball 48, the lock ball 48 is allowed to move toward the outer periphery, and an axial load acts on the guide rod 44. In this case, the lock ball 48 is allowed to come out of the lock grooves 46A and 47A, and the guide rod 44 is allowed to move. The lock sleeve 49 is biased by a spring 50 so that the small diameter portion 49A is positioned on the outer periphery of the lock ball 48, and the cable ends of the lock cables 28 and 29 are engaged. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, when the lock cables 28 and 29 are tensioned, the lock sleeve 49 is forcibly moved against the spring 50 so that the large diameter portion 49 </ b> B faces the outer periphery of the lock ball 48. It is configured.

  In the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  (A) The left and right frames 10R and 10L to which the caster 11 and the main wheel 12 are mounted are arranged in an oblique direction intersecting each other when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and the crossing angle is changed by the shaft 14A at the intersection of the central portion. An X-shaped cross member 10X that connects the left and right frames 10R and 10L is configured by pivotally connecting the lower ends of the intersecting members 14B and 14C to the left and right frames 10R and 10L. The wheelchair includes a vehicle body frame 10 and a seat 15 is disposed between the left and right frames 10R and 10L.

  Then, a base portion is disposed on the shaft member 14A disposed at the crossing portion of the cross member 10X, and is erected so as to be raised from the base portion by the urging means 23 and is disposed above the cross member 10X. The seating detection device that is lowered when the passenger is seated on the seat 15 and lifted when leaving the seat is connected to the seating detection device via the mechanical transmission means 27 and is not braked by the downward movement of the seating detection device. And a brake device 30 that stops the rotation of the main wheel 12 and is in a braking state by the upward movement of the presence detection device.

  In this way, when the occupant leaves the seat, the left / right brake device 30 can be automatically braked by the presence detection device located in the center of the wheelchair, and the presence detection device can be used to fold the wheelchair. The wheelchair can be folded smoothly without any obstacles.

  (A) The seating detection device is configured such that the fall around the axis is restricted by contacting the intersecting members 14B and 14C of the cross member 10X, and the passenger on the seat 15 disposed above the cross member 10X Detect the seated state. For this reason, when using the wheelchair, contact with the intersecting members 14B and 14C prevents the tilting around the axis, so that the presence detection device can be accurately upright and is disposed above the cross member 10X. The seated state of the passenger on the seat 15 can be detected stably.

  (C) The brake device 30 is provided with a brake release device 35 that urges the brake device 30 in a non-braking state so as to face the occupant detection device and holds the brake device 30 in the non-braking state. Thus, since the brake device 30 of the wheelchair in the empty state can be set to the non-braking state, the caregiver can move the wheelchair to an arbitrary storage position without receiving the brake resistance of the brake device 30.

  (D) A pair of guide rods 44 that are slidably supported in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body frame 10 and that support the footrest 42 so that the footrest 42 can be raised and lowered by connecting the lower end portions to the left and right ends of the footrest 42. A spring device 45 that urges and lifts the guide rod 44, an upper lock device 46 that locks the guide rod 44 in the raised position where the footrest 42 is used, and a guide rod 44 that locks in the lowered position where the footrest 42 is depressed. A footrest device 40 comprising: a lower lock device 47; an upper lock release means 28 for releasing the lock state of the upper lock device 46; and a lower lock release means 29 for releasing the lock state of the lower lock device 47, The upper lock is released via the upper lock release means 28 by the upward movement of the presence detection device. So that to release the location 28.

  That is, when the passenger gets out of the wheelchair, the upper locking device 46 is released by the seating detection device and the upper lock releasing means 28 by the rising operation of lifting the waist from the seat 15 while putting the weight on the footrest 42, and the guide The rod 44 can automatically move up and down. And since the pedaling force (substantially weight) of the passenger applied to the footrest 42 is larger than the reaction force of the gas damper as the spring device 45, the footrest 42 is lowered by sliding the guide rod 44. When the guide rod 44 is lowered to the lower locking device 47, the lower locking device 47 locks the guide rod 44, so that the footrest 42 is fixed at the lowered position. In this way, the footrest 42 can be lowered without causing the wheelchair to fall forward only by putting the foot on the footrest 42 and putting the weight on it. In addition, since the brake device 30 is automatically activated when getting on and off the wheelchair, the movement of the wheelchair is automatically restricted, and safety when the passenger gets on and off can be ensured.

  (E) The brake release device 35 releases the lower lock device 47 via the lower lock release means 29 of the footrest device 40. That is, when the occupant gets into the wheelchair, the footrest 42 is fixed at the lowered position, so the footrest 42 is stepped on, gets on, and sits on the seat 15. Since the brake device 30 is in a braking state, the wheelchair does not move when the passenger gets on, and can ride safely. When the passenger sits on the seat 15, the presence detection device causes the brake device 30 to be in a non-braking state.

  When the brake release device 35 is operated in this state, the lower lock device 47 is released, the guide rod 44 is brought into an unrestrained state, and the footrest 42 can be raised and lowered. The guide rod 44 is lifted by the reaction force of the spring device 45 (gas damper), the footrest 42 is lifted, the upper locking device 46 of the guide rod 44 locks the guide rod 44 at the upper position, and the footrest 42 is moved to the raised position. Fix it. Thus, the footrest 42 can be automatically returned to the raised position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Body frame 10R, 10L Left and right frame 10X Cross member 15 Seat 26 Seating detection plate 27 Brake cable 28 Upper lock cable 29 Lower lock cable 30 Brake device 31 Brake drum 33 Brake lever 34 Release cable 35 Brake release device 36 Release lever 38 Stopper member 40 Footrest Device 41 Lifting Guide 42 Footrest 43A, 43B Vertical Guide 44 Guide Rod 45 Spring Device 46 Upper Lock Device 47 Lower Lock Device

Claims (5)

The left and right frames to which the casters and the main wheels are mounted are arranged in an oblique direction intersecting with each other when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and the intersecting angle of each of the intersecting members can be changed by an axis at the intersecting portion of the central portion. The lower end of the wheelchair is pivotally connected to the left and right frames, thereby providing a wheelchair comprising an X-shaped cross member that connects the left and right frames, and a seat disposed between the left and right frames,
A base portion is disposed on the shaft member disposed at the crossing portion of the cross member, and is seated on a seat that is erected from the base portion and is urged so as to be raised by the urging means, and disposed above the cross member. A presence detection device that is lowered by and lifted by leaving the seat;
Rotation of the main wheel coupled to the presence detection device via a mechanical transmission means, brought into a non-braking state by a downward movement of the presence detection device, and brought into a braking state by an upward movement of the presence detection device And a brake device for stopping the wheelchair.   The seating detection device detects a seating state of a passenger on a seat arranged above the cross member, with the tilting around the axis being restricted by contacting the cross member of the cross member. The wheelchair brake device according to claim 1.   3. The wheelchair brake device according to claim 1, further comprising a brake release device that biases the brake device to a non-braking state facing the presence detection device and holds the brake device in a non-braking state. . A pair of guide rods that are slidably supported in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body frame, and that support the footrest so that it can be raised and lowered by connecting the lower end portion to the left and right ends of the footrest;
A spring device for urging and energizing the pair of guide rods;
An upper locking device that locks the guide rod in the raised position where the footrest is used;
A lower locking device that locks the guide rod in the lowered position where the footrest is stepped on;
Upper lock release means for releasing the lock state of the upper lock device;
A lower lock release means for releasing the locked state of the lower lock device, and a footrest device comprising:
The wheelchair brake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper lock device is released via the upper lock release means by the upward movement of the presence detection device.   The brake device for a wheelchair according to claim 4, wherein the brake release device releases the lower lock device via a lower lock release means of the footrest device.